This post is probably not going to win me a popularity contest, especially if you love your coffee, but if you’ve been struggling to lose weight, then you might want to stick around to hear what I have to say.

Because weight loss is not all about what you eat, but also what you drink.

Now for the purpose of this post, I going to be focussing on coffee, or more specifically caffeine, which let’s face it, can be a saviour for many who work 24/7.

I also want to point out that I’m referring to those who drink copious amounts of coffee a day (as opposed to just 1 or 2 cups), otherwise known as “chronic coffee drinkers” along with those who consume a lot of energy drinks because the caffeine (and sugar content) of these energy drinks are usually off the scale!

Whilst I’m sure you can all appreciate that caffeine can be a saviour at keeping you awake, it may not be doing the same for your waistline, especially if you drink it continually, and here’s why:

1. Each time you drink (or eat) anything that contains caffeine, it stimulates the nervous system to trigger the release of stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol, leading to an elevation in blood sugar.

Why is that a problem?

Having elevated blood sugar when you’re facing a life or death situation is actually a good thing, because it triggers the pancreas to produce insulin, helping to move this glucose out of the blood and into the cells and muscles where it can be used as a source of energy so that you can run away or “escape” from this impending threat.

The trouble is, you don’t actually have to run away from anything, (thankfully), after drinking a cup of coffee.

You’re perfectly safe. Sitting at your desk doing your thing. Answering emails, taking phone calls … whatever it is for you.

But this can be problematic.